Spain winger Lamine Yamal is a doubt for the World Cup after picking up an injury in unusual circumstances while playing for Barcelona.
World Cup 2026 is less than two months away and Yamal, who starred for Spain as they won the European Championship in his first major tournament two years ago, now faces a race against time to make the squad.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente is sweating over the fitness of his star player, who scored the only goal of Barcelona's La Liga win over Celta Vigo on Wednesday and injured himself in the process.
Lamine Yamal injured in Barcelona win
The 18-year-old, who is ranked at no.1 in FourFourTwo's list of the best right-wingers in the world right now, scored from the penalty spot in the first half of Barca's 1-0 win at Camp Nou but immediately pulled up.
Yamal signalled to the Barcelona bench and soon limped off with an injured left hamstring. Barcelona confirmed on Thursday that the teenager will miss the remaining six La Liga matches as they ease towards a 29th title.
The suspected hamstring tear has not ruled Yamal out of contention for World Cup 2026. According to reports on Thursday, the teenager is expected to recover in time to be called up by De la Fuente and feature at the summer tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Yamal has already played 25 times for Spain since making his debut in 2023. He enjoyed a glorious introduction to major tournament football, scoring in and winning the European Championship in 2024.
He was named Young Player of the Tournament and has gone from strength to strength, leading Barcelona to his second league title in 2024/25 and now scoring the goal that took the defending champions nine points clear in 2025-26.
Spain qualified unbeaten for the World Cup and were drawn into Group H. The 2010 winners will begin their campaign against debutants Cape Verde at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday, June 15.
They'll remain in Atlanta for their second group stage fixture against Saudi Arabia before facing Uruguay at Estadio Akron in Mexico in the third of their World Cup fixtures.
Yamal only featured in Spain's first two World Cup qualifiers, including against fellow finals participants Turkiye. He missed the last four due to injury but has been a key contributor for the Blaugrana this season.
He scored 16 goals and claimed 12 assists in 28 league appearances before his season reached its premature conclusion.
The young winger also amassed 10 goal contributions in 10 Champions League matches as Barcelona reached the quarter-finals.
